Congress workers clash with cops in Odisha capital

Supporters of Odisha Unit of Congress today clashed with the police in Bhubaneswar while demonstrating against BJP for allegedly dragging Gandhi family into litigation.

The incident happened when some of the workers attempted to break the police barricade and the cops tried to resist them.

“Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee today took out a rally to protest against the political vendetta of BJP. It has used its National Executive Member Subramanian Swamy to lodge a baseless and undesirable court case against the Gandhis,” said PCC President Prasad Harichandan while briefing reporters after the demonstration. He, however, did not speak about the clash.

Notably, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had filed a complaint before the trial court in 2012, alleging that Congress leaders were involved in cheating and breach of trust in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL), as assets worth crores of rupees had been transferred to YIL.

As per the complaint lodged by Swamy, Congress President Sonia and Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who were on the board of directors of YIL, had taken over the assets of the defunct print media outlet in a malicious manner to make profit and assets worth more than Rs 2,000 crore.

Apart from the Gandhis, other big-shots named in the case include General Secretary Oscar Fernandes, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, Journalist Suman Dubey and Technocrat Sam Pitroda. As per the latest development, a Delhi Court yesterday directed Sonia, Rahul along with five others accused in the case to appear before it on December 19.

Both national and state politics have been abuzz following the order. While state Congress units have taken out rallies against BJP in many of the states, Congress members stalled proceedings in Rajya Sabha today.